Waubonsee Community College

Wonders of the plant kingdom, a microcosm revealed, Wolfgang Stuppy, Rob Kesseler, Madeline Harley

eng

Includes bibliographical references (page 151) and index

illustrations

index present

non fiction

Wonders of the plant kingdom

bibliography

884440067

Wolfgang Stuppy, Rob Kesseler, Madeline Harley

a microcosm revealed

Many of the most remarkable features of plants cannot be seen by the human eye. The amazing geometric structures of pollen grains, or the dust-like seeds of orchids, to the layered innards of a fruit ripe for pollination. Evolutionary adaptations over thousands of years have resulted in forms of exceptional function and beauty, which alight in the pages of this work. A wonderful marriage of art and science, the pages of this book dissect and reveal the stunning structures and forms of plants, taking readers on a journey through the unseen world of the plant kingdom. The unusual and extraordinary images, taken by scanning electron microscope, are accompanied by a text that illuminates for a wide readership the structure and form of pollen, seeds and fruit, their role in preserving the biodiversity of our planet, and the means, often devious, by which they ensure their survival, and ultimately, that of our natural world

Precious dust: The difference between pollen, spores and seed -- Those who copulate in secret -- No match for a seed -- An invisible microcosm -- Apertures -- Finding the other half -- Pollination by wind and water -- Pollination by animals -- Beauty lies in the eye of the beholder -- The insect pollination syndrome -- Bee flowers -- Butterfly and moth flowers -- Flies and beetles as pollinators -- The bird pollination syndrome -- The bat pollination syndrome -- Typical bat flowers -- Exotic pollinators -- The advantages of animal pollination -- Fruits and Seeds: What is a fruit and what is a vegetable? -- The true nature of fruits -- The various ways to get around --Wind dispersal -- Seeds like dust -- Masterpieces of Nature -- Indirect wind dispersal -- Water dispersal -- Rafters and sailors -- Sea beans -- The biggest seed in the world -- Explosive strategies -- Animal couriers -- Tenacious hitchhikers -- Caltrops, devil's claws and other sadistic fruits -- Reward rather than punishment -- Small rewards for little helpers -- Juicy temptations -- Colourful appendages -- Fraudsters of the plant kingdom -- The everlasting beauty of plants -- Phytopia: The 'Making Of'' Wonders of the Plant Kingdom: How Science Becomes Art -- The Millennium Seed Bank: The World's Largest Plant Conservation Initiative